What does Upanayana mean?
upanayana, Hindu ritual of initiation, restricted to the three upper varnas, or social classes, that marks the male child’s entrance upon the life of a student (brahmacharin) and his acceptance as a full member of his religious community.
Why is Upanayana important?
Upanayana ritual symbolises the end of an era in a boy’s life and the initiation into another. With this ceremony, a boy leaves his childhood, proceeds to become a man, and follows the path of getting knowledge. But, in modern times, this ritual can be conducted when a man gets married.
What does a Hindu boy become at initiation?
Hindu Initiations The puberty initiation for a boy takes place between the ages of eight and 12. The boy is dressed like a holy man and put under the tutelage of a guru. When it is over the initiate takes a ritual bath and is expected to get married.
Who can wear sacred thread?
According to Vedas Grihashta/ married men are allowed to wear two sacred threads, one for themselves and another for their wife. It could have been in practice for women who had no formal education.
Are Brahmins fairer?
The skin colour was found to vary significantly among ethnic groups and social categories studied. Accordingly, Brahmins of Uttar Pradesh have the fairest skin while Manjhis (Majhwars) have the darkest skin (highest skin pigmentation). Bhagats exhibit maximum variation in skin pigmentation.
Who is involved in Upanayana?
Traditionally, though, upanayana was limited to the three upper classes of society, but in practice today, the ritual is mostly performed for orthodox Hindus and mostly members of the Brahmin caste, which includes priests, gurus and teachers. Less commonly, upanayana is performed for girls.
What is the string that Hindus wear?
The red, braided string bracelet traditionally worn by Hindus is known as kalava. In most cases, wearing kavala simply symbolizes an allegiance to the Hindu faith.
What color do Brahmins wear?
The Brahmin – the highest social caste – is associated with white. Hindu religious leaders cover themselves with white ashes to represent their spiritual rebirth. White is also the color of mourning. The other prominent deities would also have a touch of white on their dress.
What does the sacred thread symbolize?
Sacred Thread ceremony (Upanayana) The Sacred Thread ceremony is a ceremony for boys in some Hindu communities to confirm they are of an age to take on religious responsibility. Features of the Sacred Thread ceremony include: The Janoi is made up of three strands, representing purity of thought, words and actions.
What is the string that Brahmins wear?
One of the most famous and sacred rituals is that of wearing a Janeu. It is a sacred white thread which is worn by the brahmin boys after they reach the age of twelve at the ‘Upanayan Sanskar’.
What kind of ritual is the Upanayana ceremony?
…a ritual known as the upanayana, or thread ceremony, which was restricted to boys only and was more or less compulsory for boys of the three higher castes. …initiation, or “second birth” (upanayana), a rite also found in Zoroastrianism.
What does the term Upanayana mean in Hinduism?
In Hinduism, these are known as samskara. One of the most poignant of these is called upanayana, which marks the beginning of the acceptance of a student by a guru and an individual’s entrance to a school in Hinduism.
Why are boys given white dhoti at Upanayana?
Upanayana is a Hindu rite of passage ritual primarily for boys, marking their rebirth into the world of the Vedas and their readiness to learn the tradition. In the middle of the ceremony, boys are given special tradition garments, often in the form of a new white silk dhoti.
How old do you have to be to perform the Upanayana?
Upanayana, Hindu ritual of initiation, restricted to the three upper varna s, or social classes, that marks the male child’s entrance upon the life of a student ( brahmacharin) and his acceptance as a full member of his religious community. The ceremony is performed between the ages of 5 and 24, the wide variance reflecting…